Switch-lock device



Dec. 18, 1928.

E, w. POWELL swIToH Loox DEVICE V Filed oct. 14, 1927 ZZ W@ Patente-dDec. 18, 1928.

Unirse y 'saberes enterar omen.,

COMPANY, F' CHICAGO,

ELLINOS, A CORPOEATON OF NEW YORK. A

SWITCH-Loonv DEVICE.

Application filed October 14, 1927.

My invention relatesparticularly to ydevices for releasably locking thepoint rails of a switch in a predetermined position, as for example andpreferably in a position in which the switch is closed to permit thetrains in traveling over the main track to freely ypass the switch; myinvention having been devised forl use more particularly an adjunct toswitch-,throwing mechanism either ot the hand-operated or power-operatedtype, for locking the switch points in a predetermined positionindependently ot' any lock provided by the switch-throwing mechanismthereby not only providing means which compels the proper positioning ofthe switch points in thepredetermined position, before the lockingdevice may be rendered effective, which lock the switch'in suchpositionl independent of thejswitchthrowing mechanism and which serve toprevent, until manipufl latedto open position, the opening of the switchyby the switch-throwing mechanism either in the normal actuation ot thelatter or abnormally as in the case of accident.

My primary object is'to provide a novel, simple and inexp'esive'construction of lockingk mechanism kwhich may' be readily operated andpresent the minimum danger oi' impairment, especially duringr freezingweather. y

Referring to the accompanyingdrawing: Figure 1 vis a planv view of` theswitchequipped portion of ay railway track'provided with my improvedlocking mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken vView in sectional elevation ont aport-ion ot the locking mechanism, the section being takenV at ythe line2 onFig. 'l and viewed inthe direction 40 of the arrow, the mechanismbeing* shown in a 'position `for locking theswitch in closedf position.Figure 3 is a view like Fiory 2 showing the locking member of the mechawism in releasingI position; and Fignrevt, a

broken section taken at and viewed'in the directionV of the arrow.

The arrangement ofrailway tracks shown in Fig. l comprisesa pairo'point-rails 4i and 5 oa switch construction, the point rail lcomprising a part ofl the switch track and.

the point rail` 5 a part of the main track the point rail 5 being acontinuation otthe main but also providing meansy the line l on Fig. y 2

serial No. 226,138.

rail 6. The other main line rail is represented at 7.

The arrang is common in switch constructions, it being understood thatwhen the points 4; and 5 are in the position shown in Fig. 1 thel switchcomprising the point laterally deilected extensionV 8 oi' the main 'rail6 is closed so that kthe trainsmay freely` pass back and forth over themain track.

'In the arrangement l shown the `switch points 4, and 5 which areconnected together by a head-rod 9 to be moved as a unitary structure,are connected, through the meev dium of ay connecting-rod l() with ahandthrow switch stand which may bel voit any suitable construction.

T he auxiliary locking means for the switchk points comprises a lock-rodl2 which eX- tends crosswise ot thetrack beneath the rail 8 and isconnected at its inner end, as represented atl'l, with the end portion.orp a plate lll rigidly secured tothe point rail 5, this rod extendingalongside oi the elongated tie l5, to a point remote from thetrack andcontaining a notch 16 in its upper edge.

Secured lto the outer end of the tie l5 is a guide'meinber 17, t'ortherod- 12. This guide member is formed of al plate 1S at whicliit restsuponthe tie 15 and is secured lthereto by lag screws 19. The outer edgeportion oi the "plate lSterniinates in a head 2O which is locatedalongside, and depends vement described is'that which representedl at 11and rail e and the s below,the upper surface of the gtie l5 and containsaginde opening 2l therethrough in which the rod i2 slidinglyenteinls,the upA per portion of the` head 17 containing a vertical slot 22intersecting the opening 2l and with which slotthe notched portion 1Gofthe rod l2 registers when the switch points vare in the position shownin Fig. l, namely, ,in switch-closing position.

The plate and. depending head structure just Ldescribed is provided withupwardly extendinxT spaced apart lugs, or ears, Q3, preferably formedintegrally with the ,parts just referred to,'the space between theseears 1peindg in registration with the 'slot 22 in-the ica inthe form ofa latch 2li for projection into the notch. 16. of the lo'ckrod y12 whenvthe The device also comprises a lock member,

latter is in the position above re'lerred to, the member 24, which islocated in the space between the lugs 23 and is pivoted between its endsto these lags by the' pivot pin 25, being in the' form of a bar providedwith an angularly disposed portion 26 at which it is adapted to enterthe notch 16 in the lock-rod l2 and securely hold this rod againstmovement out of switch-closed position. The pivot 25 is so located thatthe center of gravity or" the lock member' 24 is between this pivot andthe portion ot the loclk-meniber which engages the lock-rod, the memberbeing 'thus gravity operated to locking position. rllhe other end of thelock-membor .i2-l and which extends upwardly an ay troni the plate i8 inthe locked positioi'iv oi: nieinber is exposed to be engae'ed the 'ootol the opera-tor who presses dI n on this end oit the member 24 tolil-'t the latter out ot locking position.

rlhe member 24 is shevkn as provided with an opening 27 extendingtherethi'ough which, when this member is in locking position, extendsjust above the upper edge of the lugs 23` and thus is accessible for theinsertion therein oi the h-asp of a pad-lock (not shown) by which themember 24 may be locked against unauthorized movement toi'elea'sing'position. Y

To protect the parts of the locking mechanism against the weather, andparticularly during stormy winter weather, l the lock-member 24 withlateral flanges which extend laterally in opposite directions from thismember along its upper edge and the outer edge oi its angular portions2G and over the pad-lock-receiving hole 27 as shov-ii in the drawings,these flanges which are preferably formed integrally with the inember 24overlapping portions of the lugs 225 and the head 22 at their lo'xverends, and at their upp ends forming, in etect, a hood tor protecting thepivot 25 and the pad-lockrecei ving hole 27. Y

lt will be understood troni the foregoing description that thehielt-member will swing down to locking position only when thelocking-i-iotch .6 registers with this member, namely, in the particulararrangement shown, when the switch points 4 and 5 are in'switch-closedposition, and with the pad-lock applied to the member 24 asstated the switch cannot be opened until the padlock has been removedand' the member 24 rocked to the position shown in Fig. 3.

. An arrangement as described thus ensures against lthe switehmanleaving' the switch in locked condition unless the switch point 5 is inproper engage lent with rail tfor rendering the switch closed.liirthermore, as this locking device is independent ot theswitch-throwing mechanism', torce exerted against the switch point andtending to move the switch to open position, as

lil if.;

provide sometimes occurs in the case of accidents, is ineffective toopenthe switch while the lockmember 24 is in locked position.

lWhile l have illustrated and described a particular constructionembodying' invention, l do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit it thereto as the same may be variously modiiied and alteredwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. ln a railway track, the combination with the point-rails of a switchtherefor, of locl'ing mechanism for said point-rails coniprising alock-rod operatively engaging' said point-rails and provided with notch,a sta"- Vtionary guide-niember in which said rod is sl'idablciongitudinal'ly, and a pivotc'd locking member having' a portion adaptedto enter said notch Llnd provided with flanges' extending from its late'al ed'es laterally in opposite directions along the upper edge and theiront edge of said member and overlapping said guide-member. l

2. In a raily'vay track, the' combination with the point-rails of aswitch therefor, ofV

locking mechanism for said point-rails coin-- prising a lock-rodoperatively engaging saidv point-rails and provided with a notch, astaf- 'tionary guide-member in which said rod is .anida-blelongitudinally, and a pivoted locking member having a portion adapted toenter said notch and ceiviine,l opening', said member being' providedwith flanges extending from its lateral edges laterally in oppositevdirections along the upper edge and the iront edge thereof andoverlapping said guide menrbei' and shielding said opening'.

3. In a railway tracl'f, the combination with the point-rail-sof aswitch therefor, ing mechanism for said point-rails eeiii-l prismg alock-rod operatively engaging said point rails and provided with anotch, a support at one side of said track, a stationary guide-membersecured' to 'said support and having a slotted poil-ion extiendingalongside of, and below, said support and in which said' rod islongitudinally slidable, spaced apart lugs integral with said guidemember and rising from said guide member and extending from a positiondirectly over said support across said Vslotted portion', and alocking-member located between said lugsv and having a notch.

4. ln a railway track, the coi'nbination with the point-rails of aswitch therefor, oft

portion adapted to enter said locking mechanism for said point-railslcomprising a lock-rod operatively engaging said point rails andvvprovided with a notch, a support at one side of said track, astationaryguide-member secured to said' sup'- port and having a slotted` portioirextendeontaining a' lock-repivoteld thereto andv ing alongside of, andbelow, said support and in which said rod is longitudinally slidable,spaced apart lugs integral with said guide member and rising from'saidguide member and extending from a position directly over said supportacross said slotted portion, and a locking-member located between saidlugs and pivoted thereto and having a portion adapted to enter saidnotch, said locking-member having flanges extend- 10 ing from itslateral edges laterally in opposite ydirections along the upper edgesand the front edges thereof and overlapping said lugs and the frontsurface of said slotted portion.

EDWARD W. POWELL.

